"Clean hands and pure hearts bring blessings from God" - Ps. 24:4-5

This psalm of David is a beautiful celebration of God, who He is, all that He has done, why He is  the only one worthy of worship and the blessings that come from those who keep Him as the center of their worship.  I'm afraid we have become misguided about the true nature of blessings.  Even those of us who honor God with our lives seem to indicate that "blessings" may be more about health, financial security or success.   I believe this psalm says those who exalt Him (those with clean hands and pure hearts; those who do not trust idols or false gods) are the blessed ones.

Look at Matthew 5:1-11- who are the "blessed" ones in this passage? ...those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers...was that what you were thinking?  Is that what the world thinks?  These words are from Jesus as He was teaching His disciples to "repent, for the kingdom of God is near" (Matt. 4:27).  When we exalt Him - because He is the only one worthy - we are blessed.  When our focus is on us and what we want, the blessings are long in coming and fleeting when they do.

Listen to A.W. Tozer in THE PURSUIT OF GOD:

While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves -

good riddance!  The man who has struggled to purify himself

and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief

when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the Perfect One.

While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do

will be getting done within him.  It will be God working in him

to will and to do.

 

In Bible study this morning we sang "God Moves in Mysterious Ways".  "You fearful saints, fresh courage take.  The clouds you so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head".  We don't look for our blessings in the clouds (or the trials)...but maybe we should!

 

For further study: 1 Samuel 2:30,  Psalm 1:1, Psalm 33:12, Psalm 51:10,  Psalm 112:1, Ezekiel 34:26,

Romans 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 6:16-17,  2 Cor. 7:1, Phil. 4:8, Hebrews 12:14.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly